Wednesday, March 4
Hattiesburg, MS
7 p.m.
Rice University
15-15, 7-10CUSA
72
at
57
Southern Miss
9-21, 5-12CUSA
1
2
F
Rice
32
40
72
Southern Miss
22
35
57
Photo by: © Maria Lysaker
Rice Earns C-USA Tournament Berth with 72-57 Victory over Southern Miss
3/4/2020 10:44:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Rice clinched a berth in next week's Conference USA Tournament with a 72-57 victory Wednesday night at Reed Green Coliseum.
How it Happened
Rice scored five of the first six points. After Southern Miss tied it, the Owls went on a 12-2 run behind three-pointers from Quincy Olivari and Robert Martin to take a 17-7 lead midway through the first half. USM scored five straight points to pull within seven, but a three by Drew Peterson followed by a jumper from Payton Moore pushed the lead back to 10 points. After LaDavius Draine made one-of-two free throws, Martin's second three-pointer gave Rice its largest lead of the half, 25-13, with 4:19 to play. The teams traded baskets before Southern Miss scored seven of the next 10 points to cut the lead to eight. But two Peterson free throws sent Rice into halftime with a 32-22 lead.
Rice struggled to start the second half, making just three of its first 10 shots while Southern Miss made eight of its first 11 to open the first 6:57 of the half on a 21-8 run and take a 43-40 lead. Trey Murphy III tied the game at 43 with a three-pointer. After Boban Jacdonmi made a pair of free throws, Peterson's three-pointer gave the Owls the lead for good and sent them on an 11-2 run to take a 54-47 lead with 4:46 to play. After a USM basket, Martin made one-of-two free throws and Peterson got a layup. The teams then traded baskets over the next 1:12. With Rice holding a 59-52 lead with 2:58 to play, Peterson hit his fourth three-pointer to send Rice on an 11-3 run, putting the game
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"That was a huge response to adversity by us. It's another box you're trying to check in the program. Another brick you're trying to lay in the foundation in your program. To face adversity; you have the lead and then give up the lead. To respond, settle down, come back, and win the game. That was a heck of an effort by our guys. They really stayed together in the huddles. They believed and trusted in the defense, which was keeping us in the game through that bad stretch of offense. Like so many times, when we get going on offense, we're pretty good. It's a sign of a mature team and I'm proud of them."
The Stats
Rice connected on 37.9% from the field and 38.8% from three. Southern Miss was held to just 40.7% from the floor and 24.0% from behind the arc. Rice was outrebounded, 39-to-33, but connected on 15-of-16 (93.8%) from the free throw line while outscoring the Golden Eagles off turnovers, 22-to-7.
Notes
• Rice improved to 15-15 on the year and 7-10 in Conference USA.
• Rice holds a 12-10 record in the series and is 4-7 in games played in Hattiesburg.
• The Owls have won eight of the last 10 meetings dating back to 2015.
• Rice connected on 13 three-pointers, the 13th time this year that it made at least 10 three-pointers.
• Rice connected on a season-high 93.8% from the free throw line. It is the first time it hit at least 90.0% from the charity stripe since Mar. 8, 2017 vs. Southern Miss and is the highest percentage since Feb. 21, 2015 vs. Florida Atlantic.
• Robert Martin scored a team-high 18 points with five rebounds and a team-high four assists.
• With three three-pointers, Martin now has 101 in his career, becoming the 28th player in school history with 100 three-pointers.
• Drew Peterson scored 16 points and had team-highs of eight rebounds and four assists.
• With the eight rebounds, Peterson became the first player in school history to record 300 points, 200 rebounds and 100 assists in a season.
• Trey Murphy III scored 12 points on four three-pointers, all in the second half.
• With four three-pointers, Murphy now has 72 on the year, moving into 12th-place on Rice's single season three-pointers made list.
• With seven points, Ako Adams now has 1,104 in his career, passing Greg Williams (1966-69) for 30th-place on Rice's all-time list.
Next Up
Rice closes the regular season this Saturday, Mar. 7, when it hosts UTEP. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will livestreamed at CUSAtv.
How it Happened
Rice scored five of the first six points. After Southern Miss tied it, the Owls went on a 12-2 run behind three-pointers from Quincy Olivari and Robert Martin to take a 17-7 lead midway through the first half. USM scored five straight points to pull within seven, but a three by Drew Peterson followed by a jumper from Payton Moore pushed the lead back to 10 points. After LaDavius Draine made one-of-two free throws, Martin's second three-pointer gave Rice its largest lead of the half, 25-13, with 4:19 to play. The teams traded baskets before Southern Miss scored seven of the next 10 points to cut the lead to eight. But two Peterson free throws sent Rice into halftime with a 32-22 lead.
Rice struggled to start the second half, making just three of its first 10 shots while Southern Miss made eight of its first 11 to open the first 6:57 of the half on a 21-8 run and take a 43-40 lead. Trey Murphy III tied the game at 43 with a three-pointer. After Boban Jacdonmi made a pair of free throws, Peterson's three-pointer gave the Owls the lead for good and sent them on an 11-2 run to take a 54-47 lead with 4:46 to play. After a USM basket, Martin made one-of-two free throws and Peterson got a layup. The teams then traded baskets over the next 1:12. With Rice holding a 59-52 lead with 2:58 to play, Peterson hit his fourth three-pointer to send Rice on an 11-3 run, putting the game
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"That was a huge response to adversity by us. It's another box you're trying to check in the program. Another brick you're trying to lay in the foundation in your program. To face adversity; you have the lead and then give up the lead. To respond, settle down, come back, and win the game. That was a heck of an effort by our guys. They really stayed together in the huddles. They believed and trusted in the defense, which was keeping us in the game through that bad stretch of offense. Like so many times, when we get going on offense, we're pretty good. It's a sign of a mature team and I'm proud of them."
The Stats
Rice connected on 37.9% from the field and 38.8% from three. Southern Miss was held to just 40.7% from the floor and 24.0% from behind the arc. Rice was outrebounded, 39-to-33, but connected on 15-of-16 (93.8%) from the free throw line while outscoring the Golden Eagles off turnovers, 22-to-7.
Notes
• Rice improved to 15-15 on the year and 7-10 in Conference USA.
• Rice holds a 12-10 record in the series and is 4-7 in games played in Hattiesburg.
• The Owls have won eight of the last 10 meetings dating back to 2015.
• Rice connected on 13 three-pointers, the 13th time this year that it made at least 10 three-pointers.
• Rice connected on a season-high 93.8% from the free throw line. It is the first time it hit at least 90.0% from the charity stripe since Mar. 8, 2017 vs. Southern Miss and is the highest percentage since Feb. 21, 2015 vs. Florida Atlantic.
• Robert Martin scored a team-high 18 points with five rebounds and a team-high four assists.
• With three three-pointers, Martin now has 101 in his career, becoming the 28th player in school history with 100 three-pointers.
• Drew Peterson scored 16 points and had team-highs of eight rebounds and four assists.
• With the eight rebounds, Peterson became the first player in school history to record 300 points, 200 rebounds and 100 assists in a season.
• Trey Murphy III scored 12 points on four three-pointers, all in the second half.
• With four three-pointers, Murphy now has 72 on the year, moving into 12th-place on Rice's single season three-pointers made list.
• With seven points, Ako Adams now has 1,104 in his career, passing Greg Williams (1966-69) for 30th-place on Rice's all-time list.
Next Up
Rice closes the regular season this Saturday, Mar. 7, when it hosts UTEP. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will livestreamed at CUSAtv.
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Team Stats
RICE
USM
FG%
.379
.407
3FG%
.382
.240
FT%
.938
.583
RB
33
39
TO
8
18
STL
5
2
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
5
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
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